Man sentenced to 50 years for killing mother and grandmother in Colombia

A Colombian court has sentenced Duván Esteban Ruiz Rodríguez to 50 years in prison for the aggravated feminicide of his mother and grandmother. The 28-year-old was found responsible for the brutal killings that took place in February 2023 in Girardota, Antioquia.

Prosecutors presented compelling evidence to the court, demonstrating a sustained pattern of domestic violence within the family. Ruiz Rodríguez entered the home and attacked his grandmother, María Ilía Méndez Yonda, 82, with a knife while she slept. He then assaulted his mother, Yolanda Rodríguez Méndez, 55, with a blunt object, causing severe head and limb injuries.

The grandmother died at the scene. The mother was hospitalized in intensive care for nearly two months before succumbing to her injuries. Police apprehended Ruiz Rodríguez at the scene, attempting to flee with bloodstained clothing and a hand injury. Authorities in Antioquia have reiterated calls for strict adherence to laws protecting women from domestic violence, highlighting available resources for those at risk.